- Monday, February 24, 2025
The paragliding cops were deployed to monitor the Lili Parikrama event in Gujarat’s Junagadh.
By: Shubham Ghosh
SOCIAL media were left split after a video surfaced recently showing a police officer in the western Indian state of Gujarat soaring above the city of Junagadh for aerial surveillance during a local event using a paramotor.
While some praised the move, a large section of netizens was not impressed, saying it was not necessary and that a drone would do the work better. They also mocked the police saying they still could not save a little girl getting mauled by a leopard during the event or that the flying is quite loud to alert criminals from a distance.
The high-flying operation was to oversee the Lili Parikrama, a sacred annual event in which devotees encircle Mount Girnar, a revered hill in Junagadh district where the city is located. The event sees participation of nearly 100,000 visitors from various parts of India.
The video footage, which went viral, features a police officer sitting on his motorised paraglider that has a compact engine that propels it through the skies. The bird’s eye view gives him a unique vantage point to keep a watch on people below who have gathered for the event.
The footage was shared on social media by the Gujarat Police and it received all sorts of reaction.
The Gujarat Police employ paragliding for effectively monitoring the Lili Parikrama in Junagadh. pic.twitter.com/HHl0B18lYo
— Gujarat Police (@GujaratPolice) November 24, 2023
Paramotors are similar to traditional paragliders that need a running start before throttling up to fly. The Gujarat Police has provided its personnel a specialised training to handle the equipment.
Here are some reactions that the Gujarat Police’s unique initiative received on X:
Drones will be better as you can monitor and control them and be ready for action on the ground.
— Kapil Roop Rai (@kapilrooprai) November 26, 2023
Absolutely no need for such theatrics. A drone could have done the job and better if you deploy face tracking cameras.
— Viki Pandit ?? (@merlinvicki) November 27, 2023
When drones are there , why this ?
— Niigam Sarvaiya (@vegguruindia) November 27, 2023
a small girl has been killed by a leopard during leeli parikrama.. plz monitor this department too, if possible.. thank you
— ??NATION FIRST?? (@starryeyedrupal) November 24, 2023
How much per flying sortie cost. Is
It sustainable.These are so loud criminals can hear it from miles. Better is to purchase drone from a
Indian manufacturer.— Sandhyadeep khuntia (@mythbuster21) November 26, 2023
Are they got trained by hamas
— Sheikh Hamza (@1007Shaikh) November 27, 2023
Wow! Futuristic implementation..Looks like in the future, drone policing will happen..
— Combat the ?Mafia! (@RajeshChrome) November 24, 2023
